A recent posting on a jihadist website encourages individuals to place bags with innocuous items in public areas. Suspicious package calls into 911 are increasing and some properties have had packages left in front of their buildings by suspicious persons.

The intended purpose of leaving bags is to cause an increase in public disruptions, desensitizing police and security teams, and using up valuable resources. An additional motive for the placement of the device is its use as a test of the response mechanism of law enforcement and security.

Celebrities have resources to react to stalking cases. Just yesterday, we saw Kim Kardashian contemplate the next steps in an ongoing case she has against a stalker who she retains a restraining order against. Her legal team will meet with law enforcement and determine future actions. I am sure more news stories will be developed as a result of this. But what, if anything, are the lessons the average person can learn from this situation?

Real victims suffer from the real impact of stalking. The vulnerability a victim feels cannot be described in words or a press conference. The impact is sufficient enough to cause over 130,000 victims a year to loose their jobs according to the US Department of Justice. Often the victims feel overwhelmed by the numerous methods used on them. They feel, and worse believe, something or someone is waiting around the corner to attack them. So severe is the distrust in some that callers often refuse to give us their name when making an appointment for a consultation for fear of being discovered.

Stalking today is growing at an epidemic rate. Advances in technology make it easier than ever to stalk someone. As we have seen in recent months, the use of Facebook and Twitter can be a great source of information on someone. The agony is the victim is posting the information themselves. Just how dangerous is this? It’s just harmless postings right? Who really cares?

Your stalker cares. All day long individuals “tweet” and post information about themselves. By itself, who cares where you had coffee this morning. Who cares if you were late for your gym class?

Take a print out of your last few months’ postings. Look at it the way an analyst would. You will find more information than you ever thought possible. Separate the topics you mention into different columns. It becomes easy to figure out your schedule, your favorite places, your friends, your habits. What’s worse, some services have GPS locations associated with it. Not only do I know where you are, but I can get a picture of the area and location.

Often times, victims of stalking try to distance themselves from the stalker by changing their phone number or email address. While this may be a short term solution, it often has a different effect and can cause certain impediments to the case.

First, get another phone number and give that new number to only very close friends and people you can trust and who know about your situation. Next, let all messages from the stalker go directly to voice mail. This helps in a couple of areas.

By recording voice mails, you are building up evidence against the stalker. Each call is a documented instance of the crime. Additionally, trained investigators can assess the messages to see if there has been an increase in volatility and attempt to determine the potential for violence against the victim. Without these recordings, we would never know the possible mental state of the stalker.

Today, news agencies are reporting on a recent posting on a jihadist website which encourages individuals to place bags with innocuous items in public areas. The intended purpose is to cause an increase in “suspicious bag” reports. The desired results will be an increase in public disruptions, especially in transportations areas, as first responders will attempt to identify and declare safe.
There apparently has been no increase as a result of this posting.

Our clients are advised that upon receipt of a “suspicious package” report near their facility, they should promptly review and secure any potential video they may have which would show the package being placed at the location and aid in the identification of the individual who placed it.

Further information can me found at:
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/jihadi-calls-suspicious-bags-left-dc-nyc/story?id=10826590

Two female suicide bombers approach a train station and execute over 35 individuals and injure over 100 more people. Timing, target, methodology… all have an investigative importance to the event. Rush hour gives you a greater population to impact. The KGB counter terrorism offices were within range. Suicide bombers are practically impossible to stop. But while all of this is important to counter-terrorism investigative efforts, what effect does this event and others like it have on us?

Sadly, most Americans this morning were unaware of the attack. Major cities will have an increase in police presence at the transportation facilities. Most of us will recognize the increase, shake our head and move on. The abundant presence of law enforcement makes us feel good, safe and secure. Much like a floating iceberg more is going on in the law enforcement communities than meets the eye.  Attempts are constantly being made to identify operational plans of small groups who want to conduct this type of attack.

Corporate security and IT departments are faced with many daunting tasks today and the risks to Smart Phones are becoming a major issue. Until recently, it was considered something of an urban myth. Today, it is a total reality. Over the counter software programs turn your phone into a sophisticated bugging device. Email, IM, texts and phone logs are all available for viewing. The culprit can even activate your microphone and listen in to your conversations, using the phone as a bug.

What’s worse, the person can even set your phone to call him whenever you make a call so his phone becomes the equivalent of an extension phone similar to the one you have in your home.

There are multiple operational and security issues facing us today and tomorrow which need to be addressed now. The upcoming terrorism trials and the effect they will have are just one example. Organizations, who might be reluctant to conduct true risk assessments on their properties, should at the very least conduct a “Facilitated Discussion” of their concepts to deal with such issues.

While everyone is trying to “read the tea leaves” to determine the next terrorist attack, the reality is all attacks, regardless of man-made or natural, present some basic problems which need to be recognized. Trying to determine the timing of the next attack and how it affects us is overwhelming for most. It is very easy to be consumed with the attack and become stalled in your thinking. You have little to no control over when or where the attack occurs. Understanding what you do have control over and reacting appropriately is key.

In the attempt to make the traveling public feel more secure, federal officials are actively promoting full body scan technology. I believe this technology has its effectiveness; however, it is not the silver bullet we would hope for. Even if this technology is implemented across the board, work arounds to defeat the system would be developed, but it is better than what we are currently using.

But what is the real core issue in the resistance to use this technology? Is it really a feeling of an invasion into our privacy, or is it something much simpler. Could it be our vanity is getting in the way of national security?

Today, companies are learning threats to our nation and critical infrastructure are coming from within our borders. Often we hear about the “Lone Wolf” and discuss how an average appearance person can blend into our society and ultimately adds the capability to become the next Timothy McVeigh.

Companies will rightfully realize the need to conduct background checks on key employees in an attempt to make the company more secure. While this process is appropriate, it is critical you ask detailed questions about the background services you are paying for. The most egregious act an investigative company can tell you is there is a national criminal check that can be performed and the subsequent bill that follows.